Motorcycle group announces suit to stop roadblocks

A California-based motorcycle rights organization announced Saturday that it plans to take legal action to prevent checkpoints such as the one operated by state police this weekend on Route 12 in Oneida and Lewis counties that singled out motorcyclists.

The New York State Police announced Saturday they were going to be stopping motorcyclists bound for this weekend's Americade motorcycle rally in Lake George. The object of the road block is to check for safety violations, according to a state police press release.

The National Coalition of Motorcyclists announced that its New York lawyer sent a letter of intent to file a class-action lawsuit against state police and the state Department of Motor Vehicles, Robert Boellmer, regional director of the coalition.

Boellmer questioned whether such roadblocks are needed, since motorcycles have to be inspected once a year like any other motor vehicle.

State police said in their release that motorcycle checkpoints are a way to increase compliance and traffic laws and provide troopers "an opportunity to interact with motorcyclists and provide them with educational materials."